Cracker-jar.



E. 1:". REIFF.

CRAGKER JAR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

hvani'or Patented D60. 28, 1909.

literary N NE %TA Flt).

CRACKER-JAR.

Application filed November 1, 1909. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. REIFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cracker-Jars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cracker jars, the object of the invention being to provide an improved jar or receptacle which is adapted to contain crackers or other articles, and from which the crackers or other articles can be removed without handling any of the articles not removed.

A further object is to provide a device of this kind which will be clean and sanitary, which will prevent handling of any but the articles removed, and which can be readily cleaned and freed from crumbs, whenever desired.

A further object 1s to provide a jar or receptacle, having one or more pockets normally closed by hinge covers, and into which pocket or pockets, the crackers or other contents are supplied, and from which they may be readily removed.

"With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a figure in vertical section of the device illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2, is a view in side elevation. Fig. 3, is a top plan view with the cover removed. Fig. 4:, is a view in horizontal section on the line dz-4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5, is an enlarged view of the false bottom removed.

My improved jar or receptacle, while it may be made of various materials, is preferably of earthen ware, and of the shape shown. That is with the body portion 1 circular in cross section, having a rounded lower end 2, and gradually increasing in diameter from its lower to its upper end, giving to the walls of the body portion an outward taper from the bottom to the top, said bottom being provided with a flaring apron 3, serving as a base or support for the receptacle.

The receptacle or body portion 1 is pro vided at diametrically opposite sides, adja- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. .28, 1909.

cent its lower end, with offsets or pockets 4:, which latter project outwardly beyond the body, and are made with a curved or tapering wall merging into the body. Covers 5 are provided on the pockets, and are connected by hinge pins (5 with the body 1, so as to permit the cover 5 to be raised and lowered.

It will be noted, due to the general taper of the walls or body 1, the covers 5 cannot assume a vertical position and hence when released are compelled to fall by gravity to closed position.

Inside of the receptacle, a false bottom 7 is located, and it comprises a blank of sheet metal, provided with a large number of perforations 8, and having extensions 9 at its ends, which are positioned in the pockets 4:, and preferably are supported in grooves or recesses 10 in the pockets. This false bottom is bent between its ends, and has a general inverted V-shape, so as to direct the crackers or other contents of the jar, into the pockets, and the perforations are to per mit the crumbs to pass through the false bottom onto the main bottom 2, from which they may be readily removed through an opening 11, normally closed by stopper or plug 12. The shape of the bottom being rounded, the crumbs will all be directed toward the center of the bottom, and hence will fall out when the stopper 12 is removed.

13 represents my improved cover, which is provided with an ordinary knob or handle ll. This cover 18 is made with an annular series of L-shaped flanges or keys 15, which are adapted to be passed through recesses 16, in the body 1, and engage under flanges 17, integral with the body. These flanges 17 and 15 are preferably provided with opposing or engaging faces of general incline or bevel form, so that when the cover is turned, after the flanges 15 begin to move under flanges 17, the cam action of the beveled flanges will cause the cover to tightly bind on the receptacle and securely hold it in place, thus enabling hand hold 14: to be used as a handle, to transport the device from place to place.

While I have described my improved device as a cracker jar, it is to be understood that it is adapted for holding various other articles, the principle of which being to enable the contents to be dispensed in a sanitary manner, for it will be understood that when the hand is placed in the pockets 4 to remove some of the contents that the hand will only come in contact with the articles removed, and such articles will be replaced by others in the receptacle when the hand is removed, thus maintaining a continuous supply in the pockets as long as there are any articles in the receptacle.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described Without departing from my invention, and hence I do not restrict myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appending claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a device of the character described, comprising a body portion, having offset pockets at opposite sides, and at the bottom of the body, and an approximately inverted V shaped perforated false bottom positioned in said body and projecting into the pockets, and adapted to direct the contents of the body into said pockets.

2. As an article of manufacture, a device of the character described, comprising a body portion, having offset pockets at opposite sides, and at the bottom of the body,

and an approximately inverted V-shaped perforated false bottom positioned in said body and projecting into the pockets, and adapted to direct the contents of the body into said pockets, and hinged covers on said pockets, said body of a shape to prevent said covers assuming a vertical position.

3. As an article of manufacture, a device of the character described, comprislng a body circular in cross sectlon and taperlng outward from its lower to its upper end, a

flaring apron or base on the lower end of said body, offset pockets at opposite sides and at the lower end of said body, an approximately inverted V-shaped false bottom in said body, projecting into said pockets, said body having an opening in its bottom and a plug normally closing said openin i. As an article of manufacture, a device of the character described, comprising a body circular in cross section and tapering outward from its lower to its upper end, a flaringapron or base on the lower end of said body, offset pockets at opposite sides and at the lower end of said body, an approximately inverted Vshaped false bottom in said body, projecting into said pockets, said body having an opening in its bottom, and a plug normally closing said opening, a series of inwardly projecting flanges in the upper end of the body, a cover, L-shaped, flanges on the cover adapted to interlock with the flanges in the body, and said flanges having beveled or inclined contacting faces, substantially as and for the pur- I pose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' AUGUST C. SCHMIDT,

S. W. Fosrnn. 

